American Jazz Suite
General Info
Year: 1992 / 1994
Duration: c. 13:25
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00; (digital) - $75.00 | Score Only (print) - $7.00; (digital) - $7.00
Movements
1. Bluesy with Inflections
2. Fast Jazz
Instrumentation
Full Score
Solo B-flat Trumpet
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Agogo Bells
- Chimes
- Marimba
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-tom
- Vibraphone (with motor)
- Xylophone (3.5 octaves)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The American Jazz Suite is a two-movement, blues-influenced symphonic jazz work conceived as a showcase for the trumpet soloist’s written melodies and jazz improvisations. The soloist is called upon to play half valves, to bend notes, and to characteristically change timbres – all of which are second nature to jazz artists. The American Jazz Suite contains jazzstyle soli writing for sections within the ensemble as well. The ‘jazziness’ of the performance lies solely in the hands and hearts of the ensemble and soloist, not on the written page. Academic analysis of the piece is unimportant because each interpretation, particularly in the case of the trumpet soloist, will be different. Spontaneity and fun are the overriding qualities that transcend the written notes of The American Jazz Suite.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Southwest Civic Winds (Durango, Colo.) (Rhonda L. Muckerman, conductor; Jared Wright, trumpet) – 4 May 2022 (ACB 2022 Annual Convention (Santa Fe, New Mexico))
- University of Kansas (Lawrence) Wind Ensemble (Paul Popiel, conductor; Joey Tartell, trumpet) – 9 November 2016
- Eastern Wind Symphony (Princeton, N.J.) (Todd Nichols, conductor; Allen Vizzutti, trumpet) – 21 March 2015
Works for Winds by This Composer
- American Jazz Suite (1992)
- Cityscape (2011)
- Concert Etude
- Duo Concertino
- High Class Brass
- Jazzscapes
- Montana Sketches (2000)
- My Italian Heart (2014)
- Quasar (2021)
- The Rising Sun (1989)
- River of Light (2021)
- Three Magical Places
- Three World Winds (2016)
Resources
- Allen Vizzutti website Accessed 11 September 2021
- Perusal score
- Vizzutti, A. (1994). American Jazz Suite [score]. Alfred: [s.l.]